Friday, November 30, 2018

We see wreaths everywhere at this time of year - wreaths on peoples doors, advent wreaths on tables, surrounding candles. But where did the wreath originate. There are conflicting stories. One claims that it is from an old English word meaning to twist. Another account claims that the Romans placed them on doors to signify victory. The Greeks used laurel wreaths to award the victors in the Olympic games. And Christians used it to symbolize Christ. Whatever the meaning, they are lovely to look at and we have a sketch of one for you this time. So here it is:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch and to substitute one shape for another but we must still be able to see the sketch in your finished submission.

Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can send you lots of feedback. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSI189when uploading to a public gallery.

If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

There is something so satisfying about sets of four! Four quarters in a dollar; four seasons in a year; four quarters in a football game! And we got some very satisfying results from our sketch Challenge #189 last time! The Quadriptyches you shared with us were beautiful! I wish we could choose 4 winners, too, but two in particular caught our collective eye:

Beautiful paper choices can really make a sketch like this come to life and Heather chose a particularly beautiful Designer Paper matched with some plain cardstock to create her four panels. Her coordinating stamps, with their gorgeous watercolour look, give a quadriptych that is elegant and artistic! Well played, Heather.

Sona's mixed media masterpiece features soft neutral tones and a variety of materials in layered perfection. The Design Team loved the kneeling angel silhouette as the focal point, but so many other details around her including the lace, stick pins, snowflake and sequins. There's even some stitching involved in the gorgeous project!

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who played along! I hope you'll come back and check out our new sketch challenge tomorrow! Our winners can pick up their badges on this page and display them with pride on their blogs or sites.

Friday, November 16, 2018

A painting or art piece divided into more than one panel is called a polyptych. When there are three panels, it's called a triptych, but when there are four panels, it's known as a quadriptych or tetraptych. I know - who cares? But when you see our sketch today and want to know how to describe it so that you sound all artsy and everything, now you have a term to sling around and impress everyone. "Yes, this card is based on a quadriptych, actually!" (Everyone's jaw drops! You walk away smirking!) So here's the sketch:

Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch and to substitute one shape for another but we must still be able to see the sketch in your finished submission.

Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can send you lots of feedback. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSI189when uploading to a public gallery.

If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

This last challenge had us seeing red...only in a good way!! And in flashes, as our crafters created their projects in under 10 minutes! Kudos to all who accepted the Speed Stamping Challenge! But two intrepid stampers caught the collective eye of the Design Team. Here are the Red Ribbon Speed Champs:

How clever was Cindy to create Santa's beard for this speed challenge? We loved the bokeh background paper she chose and the way she made the beard, with the curled strips and the die cut moustache. The die cut Ho, ho, ho and the sequins finish off this adorable card perfectly!

Joanne put aside her tendency to fuss over her projects and came up with some eye candy full of candy canes! Her creation is red, white and super sweet, as the big candy cane as the focal point is echoed in the Designer Series Paper she used as a background! The Design Team all loved the little details, which set apart speed challenge entries, like the row of small scallops in the Whisper White backing, and the white enamel dots!

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who played along! I hope you'll come back and check out our new sketch challenge tomorrow! Our winners can pick up their badges on this page and display them with pride on their blogs or sites.

Friday, November 2, 2018

Well, love 'em or hate 'em, we have another speed stamping challenge for you today, and this one, in honour of the coming Remembrance Day poppies, is in shades of red. When we do a speed challenge we are not expecting a detailed masterpiece from you. We want you to have fun and see what you can create in under 10 minutes! "WHAT?!" you exclaim,"That's impossible!" Well, it isn't, as our design team will show you, but you can design it in your head or sketch it out first. You can gather all your supplies ahead of time. But once you start the cutting/stamping/die cutting/embossing/etc. process, you must start the timer!You have 10 minutes! Let us know, with your entry, how long it took you to complete your card or project! The key is to KISS!! Keep It Simple, Stamper!Also, you can use any shades of Red, plus other neutrals but no other colours!

You can come up with your design and gather materials before you start the clock, but once you start work, you have to complete your design in 10 min.

Use only shades of red and other neutrals in your project.

Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we can send you lots of feedback. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSI188when uploading to a public gallery.

If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

It was great to see what you had to say for our last challenge, a fill in the blank challenge entitled Speak Your Mind. The challenge was to fill in these blanks:I need to say _______ to _______", and then make a card with that in mind. And you spoke out from the profound to the sublime! But there were two entries that spoke volumes! Here they are:

Cindy's tongue-in-cheek birthday card for a fellow crafter and friend takes the cake for snarkiness in mind speak! And we loved the hand-coloured character and the perfect paper Cindy used with her sentiment stickers! The reverse scallop circle proved the perfect frame!

Heather's entry was timely and profound for her and someone dear to her. We loved the message that she wanted to convey to this person and that she used a hand stamped card to do it with. We hope that this person reaches a place where this message does make a difference in their life. The Design Team loved the choice of colours that Heather has used and how she made use of the embossing mats to extend the use of her dies.

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who played along! I hope you'll come back and check out our new speed challenge tomorrow! Our winners can pick up their badges on this page and display them with pride on their blogs or sites.